the six, tucson, ariz.

single-family production / detached / merit

The houses in this Arizona infill development didn't have anywhere to turn. Built on the back sections of deep lots, four of the six face private drives and the fences of nearby buildings.
Still, Luis Ibarra and Teresa Rosano, AIA, LEED AP, wanted to make the most of their native city's outdoor living opportunities, so they stretched narrow floor plans around oversized courtyards. Their approach worked, both to sell the spec houses and to win our judges' approval. “The courtyard is the best thing about it,” raved one. “It's a classic Tucson move.”

“The design takes advantage of cool desert nights by letting each house open up into a secure, private space,” Ibarra explains. L-shaped footprints mean nearly every room flows into the courtyard. Concrete block walls finished in white stucco also were inspired by traditional desert building methods, while interiors offer contemporary living with sleek finishes and airy spaces.